To get a migratory bird permit, identify which of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s permit types matches what you plan to do, complete the corresponding Form 3-200, and submit it with the required fee and supporting documents through the agency’s ePermits portal at fwsepermits.servicenowservices.com. The USFWS recommends filing at least 60 days before you need the permit, though 90 days or more is realistic. Every activity involving a protected migratory bird, its parts, nest, or eggs requires the correct federal authorization first.
Figure Out Which Permit You Need
The USFWS administers more than twenty permit types under 50 CFR Part 21 and processes over 16,000 permits a year. The one you need depends entirely on what you plan to do. Each type uses a different form in the 3-200 series, so pinning down the activity is the first real step.
A Scientific Collecting Permit (Form 3-200-7) covers capturing, banding, handling, and collecting birds, parts, or eggs for research or population surveys. Applicants must submit a research proposal showing how the study benefits the species involved.
A Rehabilitation Permit (Form 3-200-10b) covers the care of sick, injured, or orphaned birds with the goal of returning them to the wild. Housing, diet, and handling requirements are specific and detailed.
A Special Purpose Permit covers education activities at museums, schools, and nature centers, as well as salvage of dead birds, nests, eggs, and feathers found in the wild. Salvaged specimens must be tagged with the date, location, and collector’s name, and deposited with a designated repository within six months or by December 31 of that year, whichever comes first.
A Depredation Permit (Form 3-200-13) authorizes lethal take of birds causing injury to people, property, or agriculture. Before applying, contact USDA Wildlife Services; a USDA biologist evaluates whether non-lethal methods have been exhausted and, if a permit is justified, issues a WS Form 37 that must accompany your federal application.
A Taxidermy Permit is required to perform taxidermy on migratory birds for anyone other than yourself.
Two categories work differently and are worth flagging so you don’t waste time on the wrong track. Falconry permits are issued by states, tribes, and territories under 50 CFR 21.82, not by the USFWS directly; you apply through your state wildlife agency. Bald and golden eagle activities require separate permits under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, beyond the standard migratory bird authorization.
The full list of permit types and their forms is on the USFWS Migratory Bird Permits website.
Confirm You Qualify
Every permit type has its own eligibility criteria, but a few baseline requirements apply across the board.
Experience thresholds can be substantial. For a Rehabilitation Permit, you must be at least 18 years old with a minimum of 100 hours of hands-on rehabilitation experience, accumulated over at least one full year, working with the types of birds you intend to treat. Up to 20 of those hours can come from seminars and courses rather than direct handling.
You also need state authorization in hand. The USFWS will not process your federal application until you hold, or have applied for, any required state, tribal, or other government permits. If your state permit later lapses, your federal permit becomes invalid regardless of its own expiration date.
Compliance history matters too. Under 50 CFR Part 13, the USFWS can deny an application based on prior wildlife law violations, outstanding fines, or failure to file required reports on previous permits.
Assemble Your Documentation
Applications get returned or stall when they arrive incomplete. Gather your supporting materials before you start the form. Most applications require some combination of the following:
- Professional résumé showing your experience with the species and activities you’re requesting. Scientific collecting and rehabilitation permits lean heavily on this.
- Facility details including dimensions, construction materials, flooring, perching, ventilation, and predator protection. Photographs and diagrams of enclosures are standard, and the USFWS evaluates them against published minimum standards for each permit type.
- Species and specimen list naming the exact species and number of birds you plan to handle, possess, or collect. Vague descriptions will stall the review.
- Activity scope and location describing where and how you’ll conduct the permitted activity. For depredation, this includes the WS Form 37 from USDA Wildlife Services.
- State permits: a copy of any required state wildlife permit or license.
An incomplete application either comes back to you or sits in a queue while the permit office requests missing information, and that can add weeks or months to your timeline.
Submit Through ePermits and Pay the Fee
The USFWS accepts most migratory bird permit applications through its ePermits online portal at fwsepermits.servicenowservices.com. You create an account, submit the form and supporting documents electronically, and track the status of the application from there. Paper submissions mailed to your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office are also accepted but add roughly two weeks of processing time.
Every application requires a nonrefundable processing fee, which varies by permit type:
- Rehabilitation Permit: $50
- Scientific Collecting Permit: $100
- Taxidermy Permit: $100
- Import/Export License: $100
Federal, tribal, state, and local government agencies are exempt from the processing fee, as are individuals or institutions acting on behalf of those agencies. To claim the exemption, submit evidence of government agency status with your application.
What Happens After You Apply
The USFWS recommends submitting new applications at least 60 days before you need the permit. In practice, processing often takes 90 days or more, depending on complexity, whether an environmental review is required, whether consultation with other offices is needed, and whether a facility inspection has to be scheduled.
Applications are reviewed in the order received. The permit office may request additional information at any point, and for permits involving physical facilities, such as rehabilitation, a USFWS agent may conduct an on-site inspection before a final decision.
If Your Application Is Denied
A denial, in full or in part, can be challenged through the reconsideration and appeal process under 50 CFR 13.29. Every step runs on a 45-day clock, and missing any deadline forfeits your right to further review of that application.
- Request reconsideration in writing to the issuing officer within 45 days of the denial. Include any new information or corrections that address the reasons given.
- Reconsideration decision: the original decision-maker reviews your request and responds within 45 days.
- Appeal to the Regional Director in writing within 45 days if reconsideration upholds the denial.
- Appeal decision: the Regional Director, or a designated reviewer at least one level above the original decision-maker, issues a final determination within 45 days.
If your denial was based on inadequate experience or facilities, you’re generally better off fixing the deficiency and submitting a new application than pursuing an appeal.
Keeping the Permit Valid Once Issued
Getting the permit is not the finish line. Permit terms vary: banding and marking permits last up to three years, while import/export and certain management permits can run up to five. The expiration date is printed on the face of each permit, and a permit can be amended or revoked before expiration if circumstances change or you fall out of compliance.
Most permits require calendar-year records documenting the species handled, dates, locations, and final disposition of all birds or specimens. Records must be kept at the address listed on the permit and be available for inspection by USFWS agents during regular business hours. Accepting a permit authorizes Service agents to enter your premises at any reasonable hour to inspect the birds and records.
Many permit types also require an annual report to your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office by January 31 covering the previous calendar year’s activities. Missing a reporting deadline can jeopardize your ability to renew.
Submit renewal applications at least 30 days before your permit expires, using Form 3-200-52 (which also covers amendments). If your permit expires in 60 days or less and you also need to make changes, submit a new application instead and explain the requested modifications. An amendment covers any post-issuance change, such as updating the species list, changing facility locations, or modifying the scope of authorized activities; you must return the original hard-copy permit to the issuing office along with a description of the changes and any supporting documentation.